Refrigerating apparatus



Jan. 26, 1943. o. H. REEvEs HEFRIGERATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 15, 1940 IN VENT OR. Dan 4L p 6. Pi: vzs,

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H ATTORNEYS.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jall- 1943- D. H. REEVES REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 194

Ill- ATTQRNEYS.

Jan. 26, 1943. D. H. REEVES REFHIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR pay: 1% P55 Via.

Ill ATTORNEY 5.

Patented Jan. 26, 1943 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Donald H. Reeves, Dayton, Ohio, asslgnor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application August 15, 1940, Serial No.,352,'148

2 Claims. (Cl. 211-153) This invention relates to shelves and particularly to shelves for use in refrigerator cabinets.

Shelves heretofore employed in refrigerator cabinets have been constructed of ordinary iron or steel wires welded or bonded to ether and thereafter usually coated or plated with a metallic substance to enhance their appearance and to prevent corroding or rusting of the iron or steel. It has been found that in the use of such shelves, dishes or other receptacles slid back and forth thereon or in the case of shelves sliding within or upon supporting brackets the metallic coating is soon worn or scaped through to expose the iron and cause oxidation and rusting thereof. In fact the shelves of a refrigerator cabinet are usually the first parts thereof to show wear or to become unsightly from corrosion or rusting. I therefore propose the making of shelves of a nonoxidizing or non-rusting material but have encountered numerous difllculties in endeavoring to carry out my proposition. For example, stainless steel, which has a rather bright and desirable finish and which is substantially non-oxidizable, cannot be welded without destroying its non-corroding or non-rusting characteristics particularly at the welded points and therefore the use of stainless steel is not practical where a plurality of parts must be welded or bonded together to construct a shelf. Due to the strength and non-oxidizing characteristics of stainless steel it is a preferable material for use in refrigerators and my invention is therefore particularly directed to the making of a shelf for a refrigerator cabinet from such metal without the necessity of welding parts thereof together.

An object of my invention is to'provide an improved shelf for a refrigerator cabinet and a novel method of making same.

Another object of my invention is to provide a shelf for a refrigerator cabinet that will be neat in appearance and will not corrode or rust even when surfaces thereof are scratched.

A further object of my invention is to provide a shelf for a refrigerator cabinet with a substantially fiat, article supporting surface, and which shelf is made entirely by fitting various metallic parts together and thereafter pressing certain parts into interlocking or clamping engagement with certain other parts to provide a rigid unitary structure as distinguished from bonding or weld-' ing the shelf parts together.

In carrying out the foregoing objects it is a still further and more specific object of my invention to provide a strong and durable shelf formed of a plurality of stainless steel parts that are cut to the desired length and bent into a predetermined shape to permit assembly thereof together by bending or pressing same into interlocking relation with one another to provide a rigid shelf structure.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a shelf constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view of the shelf shown in Fig. 1 and is taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the shelf taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of 'the rim of the shelf at the intersection of a reinforcing member and is taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 and is taken in front of the reinforcing member on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of a rim portion of the shelf before parts thereof are bent into the desired interlocking form;

Fig. '7 is a top plan view of a modified form of shelf constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged horizontal fragmentary sectional view of the shelf shown in Fig. '7 and is taken on the line 3-8 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view through the front rim of the shelf and is taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view through one corner of the shelf taken on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view through the side rim of the shelf taken on the line ll--ll of Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of a reinforcing member for the modified form of shelf shown in Fig. 'l: and

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view taken in a direction toward one front comer of the shelf.

Referring to the drawings, for illustrating my inventiomI have shown in Fig. 1 thereof a food supporting shelf generally represented by the reference character 20 and adapted to be located in the refrigerated chamber or compartment of a refrigerator cabinet. Shelf 20 includes a bounding rim forming the front, and two sides of the shelf. The bounding rim is composed of an inner bounding frame member 2| and an outer bounding frame member or means 22 (see Fig. 2) both of which are formed of approximately .031 of an inch thick stainless sheet steel. Outer bounding frame means or member 22 of the shelf rim is of one piece construction having its ends abutting one another as at 23 (see Figs. 1 and 3) atthe back of the shelf 20. The inner frame member 2| is also of one piece construction with its ends not joined but abutting one another as-at 24 (see Figs. 1 and 3) at the front of the shelf 20. Inner frame member 2| has its bottom edge rolled or reversely bent over to provide a bead-like portion 26 thereon. The outer frame member 22 has a cross-sectional contour of the shape shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings prior to its deformation in assembling parts of the shelf, and includes a straight vertical portion 21, outwardly bent or rolled upper and lower portions 28 and 29 respectively and laterally extending horizontally disposed portions 3| and 32 for a purpose to be presently described. A plurality of equally spaced apart slots 33 extend downwardly from the top edge of the inner frame member 2| and a plurality of similarly spaced apart slots 34 extend inwardly of the edge of the top horizontally disposed portion 3| of the outer frame member 22. The slots 33 and 34 are located along the sides only of the shelf 20 and are adapted to register with one another for a purpose to be presently described. A plurality of wires 36 reversely bent as at 3'! (see Fig. 1) extend from one side to the other side of theshelf 20 to provide a reticulated flat food supporting surface. The reverselybent end portion 31 of wires 36 extend parallel with the side ofshelf 20 and fit into the hollow head at the top of frame means or bounding member 22 provided by the rolled. over portion 28. Wires 36 are also preferably cut and preformed of substantially .094 of an inch diameter stainless steel round stock. A brace, generally represented by the reference character 38 (see Fig. 1), extends from the front to the back of shelf 26 and comprises an approximately .031 of an inch thick strip of stainless steel preformed or bent upon itself as at 39 (see Fig. 2)

and further bent as at 4| and 42 to provide outwardly and thence upwardly extending portions. The strip of brace 38 has its ends cut away as at 43 (see Figs. 4 and and is provided with legs 44 (see Figs. 2 and 3) extending laterally therefrom. Legs 44 abut against the inner face of frame member 2| and are secured to shelf 20 in a manner to be hereinafter described. The upwardly extending spaced apart portions 42 of the strip of brace 38 are provided with a plurality of spaced apart slots '46 (see Fig. 5) for the reception of the wires 36. A cap or cover 41 of approximately .021 of an inch thick stainless steel is disposed over the strip of brace 36 to close the gap between the upstanding portions 42 thereof. This cap or cover 41 has depending side portions 48 provided with spaced apart slots 49 (see. Fig. 5) for receiving the cross wires 36 and which portions 48 are bent under the outwardly extending parts 4| of the brace strip to lock the cap in position on the brace. The bottom horizontal portion 32 of outer frame member 22 has a part thereof cut out as at 5| (see Fig. 2) and the top horizontalportion 3| of frame member 22 has a part thereof cut out as at 52 (see Fig. 2) for the reception of the end portions of brace-'38. As stated the outer frame member 22 ofthe rim of shelf 20 is preformed intothe shape disclosed in Fig. 6 of the drawings to permit assembly of the various parts of the shelf before the same is crimped or bent over the edges of the inner frame member 2|. 6 r

In assembling parts to form shelf 20 the preformed rectangular-shaped outer frame member 22 having the cross-sectional contour as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings and having its end abutted as at 23 is spread apart at its ends to permit insertion into the frame of the preformed wires 36. The wires 36 are'moved toward the front edge of the shelf into position Within the rectangular frame with their reversely bent end portions '31 fitting within the hollow bead of the outer frame member 22,.provided by the rolled or bent portion 28 thereof. The preformed rectangularshaped inner frame member. 2| having the predetermined cross-sectional contour as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings is then placed within the frame member 22'. In order to locate member 2| Within member 22 one end of frame member 2| is placed against the inner surface of frame member 22 at a diagonally opposite corner of the shelf bounding rim from the ends of frame 22. The reversely bent bottom edge of frame member 2| is pushed into the hollow head of frame member 22, provided by the rolled or bent portion 26 thereof,

7 and the Walls of slots 33 in frame member 2| fit around th wires 36'and space these wires the proper distance apart. The process of pushing frame member 2| into place within the frame member 22 is started at one end of the member 2| and is continued around the bounding rim of the shelf until its ends are aligned and abutted as at 24 at the front of the shelf. Thereafter the preformed strip 39 ofbrace 38 is placed within the rectangular bounding rim with its legs 44 against the inner vertical portion of frame member 2|. After the cap or cover is placed over strip 39 and Wires 36 the depending side portions 48 thereof are pressed inwardly around the bent portions 4| of strip 39 to lock the cross wires together at the center of the shelf 26. Horizontal projections 3| and 32 of frame member 22 are bent inwardly by a press or other suitable tool against the inner vertical Wall of frame member 2| about the periphery of the shelf to rigidly clamp the various parts thereof together into the unitary shelf structure 20. The projections 3| and 32 in addition to securing the frame members 2| and 22 together also clamp the legs 44 of brace 38 to the shelf structure. a I In Fig. 7 of the drawings I have shown a modifled shelf structure generally represented'byth'e reference character 60 having cross Wiresexte'nding parallel with the sides of the shelf instead of parallel with the front and back of theshelf as is the case of shelf 20. tangular bounding rim 6| made of flat strip-like stainless steel and preformed so as to have a substantially U-shaped cross sectional contour prior to bending operations to be performed thereon. Bounding rim 6| forms a front 62. sides 63 and back 64 of the shelf 60 and has its ends Shelf 60 comprises 'arecat the four corners of the rim are flat or unbent. The rectangular-shape and cross sectional contour of rim 8| thus far described and as shown in Fig. 13 of the drawings is its preformed character and is so preformed as to permitassembly of various parts of the shelf together. Vertical wall portion 61 of rim 6| is provided with a plurality of equally spaced apart holes 14 (see Fig. 8) which receive individual round stainless steel cross wires 78 having their end portions preformed or bent in opposite directions to one another as at 11 and 18. The holes 14 are of a greater diameter than the wires 16 and permit the end portions 11 and 18 of the wires, when held at approximately 45 angle with respect to the front and back of shelf 89, to be inserted into the openings 14 and thereafter moved into the right-angled position, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, relative to the front and back of the shelf. After cross wires 16 are assembled in place upon rim 8! a metal insert 8|, having a cut-away corner portion 82 (see Fig. 9), is pushed from a corner of the rim into the front edge thereof to hold the ends 18 of wires 16 in a parallel position relative to rim 6| by virtue of these ends of wires 18 being locked in the cutaway part 82 of the insert 8|. A similar insert is installed in back edge 64 of rim 8| in the same manner to lock the end portion 11 of wires 18 to the back of the shelf 88. Since the wall portions 68 and 69 at the corners of rim 6| are open or are not bent as at H and '12 along the sides of the rim the metal inserts may be assembled through these corners and such inserts increase the structural strength of the shelf. A metal insert 83 is also pushed from an open corner of the rim 8| into each of the sides 83 of the rim. The inserts 83 may be of the same cross sectional shape and character as the inserts 8| and they may be constructed of stainless steel. However, since this material is expensive another more inexpensive material may be employed in the making of the inserts and a cover or facing member can then be placed over the exposed portion of the inserts intermediate the portions II and 12 of the rim 6|. For example, the stainless steel inserts 8| and 83 are shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings as being exposed intermediate the bent edge portions 'II and 12 of walls 68 and 89 while in Fig. 9 the exposed portion of insert 8|, particularly at the front of shelf 68, is provided with a relatively thin cover 84 thereover and which cover is clamped between the bent portions H and 12 and the insert. Cover 94 may be of any suitable or desirable material and, since it is exposed when the refrigerator cabinet door is opened, it may be colored to match other trim members or portions of the cabinet. It will be noted that the portion of insert 8| at the front of shelf 60 intermediate the bent lips 'II and 12 of rim 6| projects outwardly beyond these lips to render the coloring arrangement of the cover 84 more prominent to bring out the color trim scheme of the refrigerator cabinet.

After the inserts 8| and 83 are located within rim SI of shelf 68 curved elbow-like insert members 85 (see Figs. 8 and are placed between the wall portions 88 and 89 at the four open corners of the rim. Thereafter the edges of these wall portions at the shelf corners are bent or pressed over the inserts 85 in any suitable or convenient manner to correspond to the bentover edge portions 1| and 12 to thereby firmly clamp the corner inserts 85 in place. Insert members 85 may be molded from any suitable plastic or the like material and when abutted' against the other inserts 9| and 83 of the rim provide a relatively solid bounding rim of increased structural strength over the strength afforded by the thin stainless steel shelf parts. The elbow corner inserts may be provided with a tapering projecting portion 88 to meet and carry the colored projection 84 at the front of the shelf around the front corners thereof. A brace, generally represented by the reference character 81, extending across the wires 16 of shelf 68 comprises a strip of stainless steel 88 folded or bent upon itself as at 89 (see Fig. 12) and further bent to provide outwardly extending horizontal portions 9| and upwardly projecting portions 92. The projections 92 are provided with spaced apart slots (not shown) extending downwardly from their top edges for the reception of the cross wires I6. A cap or cover 93 of thin stainless steel is placed overthe brace 81 and has legs 9| slotted as at 95 for receiving the cross wires I8. The lower edge portion of the legs 94 is bent around the horizontal portion 9| of strip 88 as at 96 to clamp the cap or cover 93 to the brace 81. Each end of the cap or cover 93 is provided with a normally fiat extending portion 91 which is bent around a cross wire 16 adjacent the side of the rim Bl. 'The brace 81 maintains the central portions of cross wires 16 in proper spaced apart relation to one another and increases the structural strength of shelf 60 in that it causes weight placed upon one portion of the shelf to be distributed to other portions of the shelf through the various cross wires.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have constructed a shelf or shelves from relatively thin metal parts which parts are secured together in such interlocking manner that the shelf is substantially as strong as other shelvw wherein the parts are welded or bonded to one another. The construction and method of interlocking frame members, braces, and wires together as herein disclosed provides improved shelves that are flat and strong and made entirely of preformed stainless steel elements secured together without soldering or welding the elements. This the shelves disclosed have a finish which remains bright over long periods of time and are characterized by their non-oxidizing or non-rusting properties even when surfaces of parts thereof become scratched. The shelves disclosed are assembled from preformed or partially preformed parts by bending and pressing operations which are simple and relatively easy to carry out in mass production. Interlocking of the bent end portions of the article supporting wires of the shelves disclosed against the sides of the shelf bounding members greatly strengthens the shelf structure and maintains same relatively flat in that the bent end portions of the cross wires tends to prevent twisting of the shelf.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adapted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A shelf for disposition in a refrigerator cabinet comprising, two vertically disposed sheet metal members interlocked together and each extending continuously around four sides of an open area to provide a bounding frame therefor, a plurality of spaced apart round members extending in one direction only across the open area bounded by said frame to provide the shelf with an article support, all of the spaced apart round mmers intermediate the sides of said frame being separate therefrom and extending between two opposed sides thereof, and all of the spaced apart round members extending across the open area defined by said frame being substantially parallel to one another and disposed in the same horizontal plane to provide said article support 'with a flat surface, said round cross members having their end portions bent and interlocked between the two sheet metal members of said frame to cooperate with the sides thereof adjacent the said opposed sides for preventing twisting of the shelf structure. i

2. In a shelf for disposition in a refrigerator I DONALD H. REEVES. 

